6 TWO DIANAS IN SOMALILAND 



we were enabled to traverse the country in almost any 

 part, and would have been passed from Mullah to 

 Sheik, from Sheik to Mullah, had we not taken ex- 

 cellent care to avoid, as far as we could, the settled 

 districts where these gentry reside. At one time all 

 the parts we shot over were free areas, and open to any 

 sportsman who cared to take on the possible dangers 

 of penetrating the far interior of Somaliland, but now 

 the hunting is very limited and prescribed. We were 

 singularly fortunate, and owe our surprising good luck 

 to that much maligned, useful, impossible to do with- 

 out passport to everything worth having known as 

 " influence." 



The tents we meant to use on the shoot were made 

 for us to a pattern supplied. They were fitted with 

 poles of bamboo, of which we had one to spare in 

 case of emergencies. The ropes, by particular request, 

 were of cotton, in contradistinction to hemp, which 

 stretches so abominably. 



Two skinning knives were provided, and some little 

 whet-stones, an axe, a bill-hook, two hammers, a screw- 

 driver — my vade mecum — nails, and many other need- 

 ful articles. We trusted to getting a good many 

 things at Berbera, but did not like to leave everything 

 to the last. Our " canned goods " and all necessaries 

 in the food line we got at the Army and Navy Stores. 

 Field-glasses, compasses, and a good telescope our 

 generous relative contributed. 



They say that the best leather never leaves London, 

 that there only can the best boots be had. This 

 is as may be. Anyway the shooting boots made for 



